Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have had a kid at each of these schools, and there is no comparison in the level of education they receive. JMU is like 13th grade, while WM is a real college.

If your DC's career goal is to be a nurse or computer programmer or teacher, then go to JMU. But otherwise WM.

You are coming across kind of snide and pejorative.

Not everyone thinks W&M is the bee's knees -- even kids who thought they LOVED it enough to go there. My friend's kid went there... knew by the end of the first semester that s/he wanted out. Transferred to a #234 ranked school in a place that s/he is MUCH happier, and very successful and sought after for paid employment (after 1st yr at #234).

Rankings aren't everything!

DP but yes, they kind of are in the long run. Having a "happy time" for 4 years is pretty worthless unless it is combined with academic rigor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have had a kid at each of these schools, and there is no comparison in the level of education they receive. JMU is like 13th grade, while WM is a real college.

If your DC's career goal is to be a nurse or computer programmer or teacher, then go to JMU. But otherwise WM.

You are coming across kind of snide and pejorative.

Not everyone thinks W&M is the bee's knees -- even kids who thought they LOVED it enough to go there. My friend's kid went there... knew by the end of the first semester that s/he wanted out. Transferred to a #234 ranked school in a place that s/he is MUCH happier, and very successful and sought after for paid employment (after 1st yr at #234).

Rankings aren't everything!

Amen to that. We also know of kids who transferred out of W&M almost right away. It's not for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W&M

If your kid gets depressed easily, avoid W&M.

Why?

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I both went to JMU and LOVED it. We know a lot of very successful business people from there and I think your kid would do great there! But if it were my kid, I would let them go to W&M if that is what they wanted. Not because I have any reservations about JMU, but because I think kids know what college feels right to them. Have DS sit down with a financial advisor to talk through the debt and what that would look like in the future. GL

+1

Teachable moment here

Anonymous wrote:Have had a kid at each of these schools, and there is no comparison in the level of education they receive. JMU is like 13th grade, while WM is a real college.

If your DC's career goal is to be a nurse or computer programmer or teacher, then go to JMU. But otherwise WM.

You are coming across kind of snide and pejorative.

Not everyone thinks W&M is the bee's knees -- even kids who thought they LOVED it enough to go there. My friend's kid went there... knew by the end of the first semester that s/he wanted out. Transferred to a #234 ranked school in a place that s/he is MUCH happier, and very successful and sought after for paid employment (after 1st yr at #234).

Rankings aren't everything!

I had to make a similar decision many years ago between W&M full pay and free ride to a public school on par with JMU. I chose the free ride, had a great time both academically and socially, and ended up at an ivy for graduate school. No regrets- take the free ride.

Anonymous wrote:W&M

If your kid gets depressed easily, avoid W&M.

Anonymous wrote:I'd go with the free ride to JMU and I say that as a W&M grad. Get a higher GPA with less stress and use the money you save for grad school.

I agree. JMU is a great value and some of the programs like computer sci are very good. JMU is a happier campus too.

Anonymous wrote:W&M grads are highly regarded in academia and hiring. Name recognition and reputation isn’t nothing. If my kid leaned towards W&M and received that amount of aid I would move mountains to let them attend. But I don’t know your circumstances of course. JMU is a fine school, but W&M is unique.

The vast majority of kids aren’t going into academia, and if any are, well, it’s a low-paying field.

W&M

W&M grads are highly regarded in academia and hiring. Name recognition and reputation isn’t nothing. If my kid leaned towards W&M and received that amount of aid I would move mountains to let them attend. But I don’t know your circumstances of course. JMU is a fine school, but W&M is unique.

Anonymous wrote:Have had a kid at each of these schools, and there is no comparison in the level of education they receive. JMU is like 13th grade, while WM is a real college.

If your DC's career goal is to be a nurse or computer programmer or teacher, then go to JMU. But otherwise WM.

NP. I also have a kid at both schools. This is utterly untrue and I have to wonder if you’re trolling. This has not been their experience *at all* and they are majoring in International Affairs at JMU. Lots of internship opportunities and challenging classes. I can’t begin to think why you would make such broad generalizations about this great school.

OP, I would let your child pick the school s/he likes better, but a full scholarship at JMU would be very hard to turn down. My kid absolutely loves it there.

Have had a kid at each of these schools, and there is no comparison in the level of education they receive. JMU is like 13th grade, while WM is a real college.

If your DC's career goal is to be a nurse or computer programmer or teacher, then go to JMU. But otherwise WM.

My husband and I both went to JMU and LOVED it. We know a lot of very successful business people from there and I think your kid would do great there! But if it were my kid, I would let them go to W&M if that is what they wanted. Not because I have any reservations about JMU, but because I think kids know what college feels right to them. Have DS sit down with a financial advisor to talk through the debt and what that would look like in the future. GL

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Student loan max is $27k not $40k. Do you have the remaining $13k?

Yes, I meant that student will get $5K(ish) loan and the rest we'd pay for.

Just not sure if the prestige factor of WM is worth it.

it is not. Your kid will be grateful to not have any debt and you won't have to struggle to find the remaining $8K. There will be money available then for extra expenses that college kids might have (joining friends for dining out every few weeks, trips to the movies, etc).

Save the money for any grad school your kid might want (MBA in the future).